THE BULGARIAN LAW ON RELIGIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R003400090008-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 10, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION. REPORT
50X1-HUM
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United states, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT The Bulgarian Law on Religions
DATE DISTR. 10 November :1953
NO. OF'., PAGES 6
REQUIREMENT NO.' RD
50X1-HUM
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STATE X IARMY IX NAVY X AIR FBI AEC
(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS -REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. One of the purposes of the Russicum College of Rome is to prepare Catholic priests
for work-in Ortho countries. At'the'present time 11 this function- cannot be, re
alizeda but the activities, of Russicum College continue anyway. Russicum is very
interested- n the- organization and lives of the tiiembers of the various creeds
practiced in the Slavic countries where Orthodoxy is predominant, and is relatively
well informed in these matters..
?It.was from one of the members of.Russicum College that-the conditioof the
Orthodox-Church in Bulgaria were revealed with regard `to the effects.of' the law
of 1 March ' 191i9. passed just when the spy trial against Protestant nt ministers was
taking plaee' in Sofiao Although this law recognizes that "the Bulgarian Orthodox
Church constitutes the traditional faith of the Bulgarian people, together .with
its history" it establishes nevertheless,; a uniform system for all creeds, w4ch
are subject to the e=tt & of the Ninistry of Foreign Affairs and Religion.
Although this law repeats the usual:_ittatements concerning freedom of conscience.-
and of religion and-re-emphasizes the principle of the separation of Church and
State, it recognizes only the exercise of "religious rites"'and makes no mention
of activities of the propagation of faith.- In order to exist officially in Bul-
garias each:religion must be given a special.authoriFation for this purpose by
the- Government,-through the Ministry of "Foreign Aff4,rs and Religion. This author-
?ization, however, may be. withdrawn arbitrarily. Governmental recognition of a-..
religion also includes recognition of the statute of this religion as a legal. en"'
tity. The directors of the various.. faiths are responsible to the Government and'
the "agencies directing". these creeds are !also responsible to the Government and
must be formed, by members who are Bulgarian citizens.,-The priests who ".act against
the democratic institutions of the State" can be dismissed upon request of the
Ministry of Foreign. Affairs. As to questions of a financial nature, the annual
budgets of the various churches must be presented to the Ministry of.Foreign-
Affairs and Religion which "can supply a subsidy in case of need:". This subsidy.
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is. obviously granted by the State. All relations of a financial nature and all
person .c:relatibns,:with foreign countries must be maintained solely !.through
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion, The various faiths in''Bulgaria are,
authorized to open-schools for the training of the clergy under the 'contr?l of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion., but they are not authorized to open or
maintain hospitals., orphan asylums, and other similar instittions. The messages$
circular letters... and publications of these religions are subject to approval by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religion, which may prohibit their publica-
tion. An important characteristic of the new regime of control over the various
faiths is the obligatory registration of their directing bodies. Furthermore,
religious institutions established abroad cannot have any branches in Bulgaria.
The law provides that within one month of the prlgation of this law, all
creeds existing inside Bulgaria will present to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Religion a list of their clergy. The Ministry may insist on the dismissal
of one or more of these clergymen. Therefore, in a subtle but clearly legal
manner., the law of 1949 established complete control of the Church by the State.
By means of the various types of controls the authorities have the legal power
to suppress, restricts or interfere in the creeds or to make use of them for their
own purposes. The Orthodox Church is no exception.
25. The text of the 1.91:9, Law on Confessions is as follows:
Article.i A. Freedom. of conscience and of religion is guaranteed to all citizens
of the People's Republic of Bulgaria.
Article 2 Religious faiths., insofar as they are religious communities, are
separate from the State.
Article 3 The .Bul?gari.an Orthodox Church is the traditional religion of the
Bulgarian people., associated with its history and vested with
a form, a, doctrine, and a spirit such as to allow it'to become the
democratic church of the people.
Article 4 No citizen may be persecuted or limited in his civil and political
rights and;- may not be exempt from the obligations imposed by law
because of the fact that-he belongs to one or another faith or be.
cause he is listed on vital statistics registers as being a member
of" no religious faith. This clause concerns clergymen of all con-
fession e
Article.5 The various faiths may, within the structure of their organization,.
conform in their rites and religious services with their canons and
their dogmas insofar as these doctrines are not in contradiction
with the lava,. public order, and morals.
Article 6 A.religious creed is recognized and will receive approval as a
legal entity from the day tm which its statutes are approved by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, After this date., the approval
as alegal entity will allow also the ramifications of the reli-
.gi Ous creed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs may withdraw its
approval. in cases in which the activity of one of the faiths
violates the laws public orders and good morals.
Article 7-- The creeds may construct houses' oft.w hipL' i.th:ltheir own facili-
ties and there carry out the religious ceremonies and rites of the
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cult. Religious ceremonies and open-air processions are subject
to the general laws and administrative regulations.
Article 8 The cult may convoke councils., conferences, and general meetings
for the rwkto1b`co~antryr or la one or another region of the country.
These'must conform with the general laws and administrative regula-
tions.,
Article 9 .Each creed will be headed by a directing body responsible to the
State. The statutes of.each creed must establish the manner in
which it is to be administered,: the character of its representa-
tives" and the manner in which they are to be elected or appointed.
Representatives of the various creeds who have canonical relatio'"
with foreign countries may not exercise these functions except
with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 10 Only Bulgarian citizens who are honest and trustworthy and who have
not been deprived of their rights by court sentence may be mini-
sters or officials of a religious cult.
Article 11 The creeds may., in conformity with their canons and doctrines, in-
stitute councils of discipline for the clergy or high officials of
their church. The organization and methods of procedure of these
councils shall be set forth in the statutes of the religions.
Disciplinary penalties will not be considered valid if they are
contrary to the law., to public order, and to good morals,
Article 12 Priests and high functionaries who infringe upon the laws, disturb
public order: or good morals, or act against the democratic institu.-
tions of the State are liable, in addition to the other sactions,
to temporary suspension from their duties and even complete termina-
tion of such duties upon request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs..
Such termination or suspension must be immediately enforced by the
directing body of the religious faith upon receipt of the request
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the priest is not sus-
'pended or dismissed by said responsible directing body, he will
be suspended or dismissed by administrative order.
Article l3 Religious creeds may receive income and make expenditures in con-
formity with the budgets elaborated within their statutes. They
may receive State subsidies if necessary. The budgets must be
presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Financial admini-
stration of the religious cults is subordinate to control exercised
by agents of the Treasury.
Article 11 Each religious cult may open secondary or advanced schools for
preparing clergymen, with the authority of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. The organization and program of these pedagogical insti-
tutions will be subjecrt-to special regulations approved by the
Mifiistry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must
authorize any foreign study by seminary students.
Article 15 The institutes of the cult will be invited to submit in advance
all messages., circular letters, and other publications of public
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Article 16
Article 17
Article 18
Article 19
Article 20
Article 21 The religious creeds may not openn hospitals, orphan asylums, or
similar institutions. Institutions of this type already in existence
will pass over to the control of the Ministry of Public Health or
the Ministry of Labor and Social Service, and their properties will
be taken over by the State. Owners of these properties will re-
ceive indemnity as fixed by a commission appointed by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and composed of a representative of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, a representative of the Ministry of Finances
and:a representative of the People's Council of the locality in
which said properties are located. Appeals against the decision
of-the commission-.may be made before the regional committee, whose
decision is final.
Article 22 Religious cults may have relations with religious cults$ institu-
tions, organizations, and official personalities abroad only if
so authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 23 Reli ous cults and their branches (orders, congregations, missions,
etc.) established abroad may not create any branch (orders, congre-
gations, missions, etc.). in the territory of the People's Republic
of Bulgaria. Branches of this type already in existence will be
suppressed within a period of one month starting from the date of
enforcement of the present law. Properties belonging to the
branches concerned which are to be suppressed by this.law will be
turned over to the State against payment of. an indemnity in con-
formity with that established it Article 21 of this present law*
importance, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry may
prohibit circulation or drawing up of all messages, circular
letters or other documents' Or publications contrary to the laws,
'public order, or good morals.
The directing bodies of the religious cults must be registered at
the -Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the directing bodies of the
local units of said cults will be registered with the local People's'
Councils.
Bulgarian language will be the official language of religious creeds
both'in their relations between themselves and the authorities and
in their archives materials. Another language may be used for re-
lations with the faithful and for religious ceremonies.
The'religious cults may make reference during their ceremonies and
offices to the supreme government of the State or to authorities;
however, they must use a text previously approved by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. '
Religious cults must inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of th~ir
names, symbols, and cachets (stamps, seals) which they use.
The constitution. of societies with moral aims of a religious
character, as well as the publication of books, etc. Intended for
religious instruction are subject to the general laws and admini-
strative regulations. The education and organization of the youth
are the task of the government and are not within the purview of
religious cults or of their rdmisters.
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Article 24 Vie' rela.giou.s cults may not receive financial help. or gifts from
abroad except with the permission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 25 Religious cults possessing properties or goods abroad will be re-
presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoplets Re-
public of'Bulgaria in all transactions concerning such goods and
materials. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also assume re-
sponsibility for the protection of religious interests of Bulgarian
citizens abroad.
Article 26 Each sermon or address which incites religious hatred, either oral.,
iaritten,s or by am other means, will be punishable by imprisonment
and a fine up to 10,000 leva.
Article 27 Vhoever with violence or threat interferes in the religious
.practices of the citizens or religious cults which are not contrary
to the law, public orders or good morals., will be punished by im-
prisonment up to one year. Whoever obliges another person to take
part in religious practices of a religious cult will he punished
by the same or a more severe penalty.
Article 28 Whoever constitutes political organizations with a religious basis.,
or who bywords by writings or by any other means uses the church
and-religion for propaganda against the authorities and their acti-
vity may be punished by imprisonment, unless his actions are such
as to be punished by even more severe punishment.
Article 29 Any violation of this law will be punished, in addition to such
sanctions as may be derived from the enforcement of another laws
with a-fine up to 10,000 leva, to be imposed by decision of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs -with a'.11.tht to -a&lp6U--by virtue of
the established law in Chapter V, Volume VI, of the Penal Code.
Article 30 A11. questions concerning the financial characters the internal organi-
zation, and the management of the various religious cults will be
covered by detailed regulation for each cult and stipulated by a
special s` wilts for such matters as are not covered by this present
law. This statute will be drawn up by the leaders of each creed in
conformity with the laws of the country and will be submitted for
approval to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within three months
of the date of enforcement of the present law. If the statute
submitted for approval contains articles contrary to the laws of
the",-country., public orders and good morals., the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs may require the. exclusion of said articles. .If the religious
dolt does not conform with the request of the Ministry., the Ministry
may refuse approval of the statute.
Article 31 Within a one-month period of the entering into force of the present
laws the central directorate of each creed must present to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs the list of its directors and its
religious representatives. The latter may remain in paver if the
Ministry of,Foreign Affairs does not object. Objections may be
raised against any ministers., clergymen., or governing personnel who
do not conform to the qualifications established by the present
law.
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Article 32 The_ present law siipersedes all laws which may coritradict`'it. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the enforcement of
the present law.
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